Hand Therapy

The Hand Therapy team is a Regional Hand Unit and consists of specialist Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists who work generically to manage patients with a variety of hand injuries and acquired conditions.

The injuries and conditions we manage include fractures, tendon and nerve repairs following trauma and elective procedures such as joint replacements or tendon transfers. These can range from simple single digit injuries to complex multiple traumas. Patients are encouraged to carry out home treatment programmes and to be responsible for their rehabilitation. The aim is to allow people to return to optimum function within their life roles.

The hand therapy team is active in research and evidence-based practice and several papers have been presented at the joint Surgeon and Therapist conference in Sydney, Australia in 2007. The team also presented a poster at the European Hand therapy Conference in 2008. They were further involved in a validated British Association of Hand Therapy (BAHT) courses which was run by the hand therapy team for therapists nationwide. The team have also been involved in designing, running and presenting one day courses for hand therapists.

The team is lead by a Hand Therapy Consultant, supported by a Clinical Specialist Hand Therapist and consists of 13 full time Hand Therapists and 1 Therapy Assistant.

Our services

Outpatient Hand Therapy

Patients (adults & children) are referred from Hand Management Unit (HMU) immediately after surgery and from plastic surgery, hand trauma and elective surgery clinics in the hospital. These patients are followed up as appropriate.

Inpatient hand therapy

Postoperative patients (adults & children) admitted to the hospital wards following trauma or elective procedures to the hand are referred to hand therapy. These patients are followed up as outpatients following discharge from the hospital, as appropriate. Hand Therapy involves:

• Education regarding surgical procedure, time scales, precautions and answering patients questions
• Splinting the affected hand to protect surgical area (eg prevent rupture following tendon repair)
• Exercises to preserve function of affected and unaffected joints as appropriate
• Scar and oedema management
• Functional evaluation of the hand to aid in decisions regarding surgical intervention

Patients who undergo the following procedures are not routinely seen in hand therapy:

• Digital nerve or artery repairs
• Repair of sensory branch of the radial nerve
• Carpal Tunnel release
• Trigger finger release
• Removal of ganglions or other lumps/bumps to the hand
• Superficial injuries

How to access our services

All patients are referred from the Hand Unit at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital. Referrals are not accepted from other departments within the Hospital or from GPs.

FAQs

• Who can refer to the service?
  
  A ll patients are referred from the Hand Unit at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital. Referrals are not accepted from other departments within the Hospital or from GPs.

• If I have hand surgery at Chelsea and Westminster do I have to attend there for therapy?  What if I live a long distance away, can I be referred to my local hospital?
  
  We do refer patients to their local hospital and we have good links with many of these but it must have a therapy dept with the experience to treat your type of injury. It is sometimes necessary to keep you at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital to ensure you get the best outcome.

• Can I have appointments at weekends or evening?
  
  Our service runs from Monday to Friday from 8am with most therapists working to 5pm, two of the senior therapists work until 6pm. We currently cannot offer weekend or late evening appointments.

• What happens if I am late for an appointment or have to cancel my appointment?
  
  According to the department policy, if you arrive 20 minutes later than your appointment time it will not be not possible for the therapists to see you. You will be classified as ‘Did Not Attend’ (DNA). You will be given another appointment. If you DNA your appointments twice, you will be discharged from Hand Therapy and letter will be sent to your Consultant. A new referral will then be required from your Consultant for Hand Therapy.
  
  We require 24 hour notice if you wish to reschedule your appointment. This will allow us to accommodate another patient and use of therapy time efficiently.
  
  If you fail to attend the first Hand Therapy appointment as a new patient and do not inform us, you will be discharged from Hand Therapy.
  
  If you fail to attend a follow-up appointment and do not inform us, you will be classified as DNA. A letter will be sent to you to contact us. If you fail to contact us within 4 weeks of receipt of the letter you will be discharged from Hand Therapy. If you DNA twice you will be discharged from Hand Therapy.